A DISUSED railway line has moved a step closer to a possible reopening.

The Leamside Line, a 21-mile stretch from Tursdale, County Durham, to Pelaw, near Gateshead, was mothballed in 1992 and 16 miles of track was pulled up in 2012, having been targeted by scrap metal thieves.

However, campaigners have long called for its reopening, saying it would ease congestion on the A1 and the East Coast Main Line.

Now the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (Lep) has commissioned a study into the business case for reopening the line.

A spokesman said: “The North East Lep has commissioned some work to investigate the potential for the re-introduction of rail services between Newcastle and Northallerton, and the role the Leamside Line might play in this.

“The intention is to inform forthcoming work by Network Rail and the wider rail industry as part of its long-term planning process and in particular to provide evidence that can inform Network Rail’s planned East Coast route study, North of England route study and 2018 East Coast capacity review.

“The work commissioned by the North East Lep is the first step in the longer process of developing a business case for the line.”

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said she was pleased at the move.

“I believe there is a strong case to be made for the reopening of the line which would relieve congestion on the East Coast Main Line, would provide an additional route for freight services and would help to reduce traffic levels in the region.

“I have campaigned to have the line reopened with fellow North-East MPs for many years and I hope that one days soon the line will be serving the region again.”